Heat Dissipating Structures and Mobility Apparatus for Electronic Headset Frames

ABSTRACT

A heat sink for electronic devices, such as wearable displays, dissipates heat away from and electrical component, such as a microprocessor. An adjustable support assembly permits adjustment of a visual display relative to a user&#39;s field of view.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/479,026, filed Apr. 4, 2017, and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/318,141, filed Apr. 4, 2016 and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/318,554, filed Apr. 5, 2016, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices including a frameconfigured to be worn on the head of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Electronic headset frames, such as Google® Glass Enterprise Editionvisual display, serve as an optical display designed as a pair ofglasses to be mounted to the head of a user. These electronic headsetframes are capable of not only displaying images, but also recording thevisuals of a user. These electronic headset frames may include an arm or“pod” which houses components such as the microprocessor, which aresubject to overheating after a period of time due to the heat generatedby electronic chips in the microprocessor which cause the device toeither malfunction or shut off. Additionally, these electronic headsetframes are currently provided via immobile eyeglasses which restrict theuser's vertical field of view.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a wearable display isprovided. The wearable display includes a headset configured to be wornby a user and a visual display assembly including a support bodysupported by the headset and a visual display supported by the supportbody to be positioned forward of a user's eye wearing the headset. Thewearable display further includes an electrical component incommunication with the visual display and a heat sink in thermalcommunication with the electrical component. The heat sink includes abase positioned to receive heat from the electrical component and aplurality of heat fins in thermal communication with the base todissipate heat from the electrical component into the environment.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a wearabledisplay is provided that includes a headset configured to be worn by auser and a visual display assembly including a support body supported bythe headset and a visual display supported by the support body to bepositioned forward of a user's eye wearing the headset. The wearabledisplay further includes an adjustable support assembly coupling thesupport body to the headset in one of a plurality of positions.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned aspects and many of the intended features of thisdisclosure will grow to be appreciated at a greater level oncereferences to the following accompanying illustrations are expoundedupon.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of wearable display including a headset and avisual display positionable in a user's field of vision;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the visual display showing a heat sinkcoupled to the visual display;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heatsink of FIG. 2 showing theheatsink including a plurality of heat fins and tab that provides acradle;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the heat sink of FIG. 2 showing the cradle;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the heat sink showing the heat sinkincluding a plurality of connections in the tab to communicate withelectrical components of the visual display;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the heat sink of FIG. 2 showing the tabincluding a micro USB port;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the heat sink of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the clamping structure of the mobility apparatusincludinga view of the square hole;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an adjustable support assembly thatcouples the visual display to the headset;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the adjustable support assembly;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the adjustable support assembly;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a base of the adjustable supportassembly and a screw that clamps the visual display to the headset;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the base of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 15 is another perspective view of the base of FIG. 12.

Equivalent reference components point to corresponding parts throughoutthe several views. Unless otherwise indicated, the components shown inthe drawings are proportional to each other. Wherein, the illustrationsdepicted are manifestations of the disclosure, and such illustrationsshall in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principals of thedisclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, which are described below. The embodiments disclosed beloware not intended to be exhaustive or limit the disclosure to the preciseform disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, theembodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the artmay utilize their teachings. It will be understood that no limitation ofthe scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. The disclosure includesany alterations and further modifications in the illustrative devicesand described methods and further applications of the principles of thedisclosure which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe disclosure relates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to the present disclosure, a wearable display 10 is providedthat includes a headset 12 positionable on a user's head (not shown) andvisual display assembly 14, also referred to as a glass pod 14. Glasspod 14 includes a support body 16 coupled to headset 12 that wrapsaround the side of a user's head to a position in front of the user'sfield of view. Glass pod 14 further includes a visual display 18supported by support body 16 positioned in the users field of view.Visual display 18 is preferably transparent and configured to displayimages, data, etc. in the user's field of view, Glass pod 14 ispreferably a Google® Enterprise Edition visual display. Additionaldetails of suitable visual display assemblies are provided in U.S. Pat.No. 8,493,204 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos 2013/0069850;2013/0258270, and 2013/0235331, the entire disclosures of which areincorporated by reference herein. According to alternative embodiments,other headset configurations may be provided such as glasses and otherheadset configurations known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Glass pod 14 is connected to headset 12 with an adjustable supportassembly 20. Support assembly 20 allows a user to adjust the position ofvisual display 18. In one embodiment, glass pod 14 can be rotated to bewithin the user's field of view; however, in other embodiments, glasspod 14 can be rotated to be inside and outside of the user's field ofview or a multitude of other angles relative to the user's range of headmotions, preferably within a 360 degree radius.

Glass pod 14 includes several electrical components that provide power,communications, processing, and otherwise support the features of glasspod 14. For example, glass pod 14 includes a battery 22 positionedinside support body 16, a microprocessor/CPU 24, a camera 19 (shownextended from its normal position in FIG. 1), a touchpad (not shown), aspeaker (not shown), and a microphone (not shown). Often, suchelectrical components generate heat. On occasion, if such heat is notdissipated away from the electrical component at a sufficient rate, theelectrical component may heat up too much. To avoid component failureand/or other issues, the electronic components may be partially or fullydisabled to eliminate and/or reduce the heat generation. When disabled,a particular feature(s) of glass pod 14 may be disabled. To facilitatedissipation of heat away from one or more of the electrical componentsand to maintain functionality, glass pod 14 is provide with a heat sink26 as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, heat sink 26 is coupled to an outer side ofglass pod 14, forward of a user's ear when worn by a user. Heat sink 26is positioned to receive heat from microprocessor 24 and to dissipatethe heat away from microprocessor 24 and preferably away from the user.According to the preferred embodiment, heat sink 24 is made of aluminum.According to other embodiments, heat sink 24 may be made of other metalsand other materials having high thermal conductivity.

As shown in FIG. 3, heat sink 26 includes a base 28, a plurality of heatfins 30, a communications tab 32, an upper lip 34, and a heat transferextension 36. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, base 28 is contoured to matchan outer profile of support assembly 20. During assembly, base 28 isadhered to support assembly 20 with a thermally conductive adhesive.Upper lip 34 is positioned on top of support assembly 20 and transitionsfrom wider to narrower to match a thickness of support assembly 20.Upper lip 34 may also be adhered to support structure with thermallyconductive adhesive. Preferably, the thermally conductive adhesive has athermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductive of the materialof support assembly 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, heat transfer extension 36 is substantiallycylindrical and positioned in contact, preferably direct contact, withCPU 24 to facilitate the transfer of heat from CPU 24 to base 28. In theembodiment, plastic support assembly 20 of pod 14 that protects CPU 24is drilled to include a small hole (not shown) that receives extension26 to contact CPU 24. Upon such contact and use of CPU 24, the heat thatcomes from CPU 24 is then transferred to extension 22 and into base 28,and then released through base 28 and primarily through heat fins 30.CPU 24 may also be connected to extension 22 by using a thermaladhesive.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, heat fins 30 have approximately the samewidth. As shown in FIG. 7, heat fins 30 have a length that varies withthe counter of the lower edge of base 28, which matches the counter ofthe underside of support assembly 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3-7, heat sink 26 may also include tab/extension 32that cradles and underside of support assembly 20. In addition tocradling support assembly 20, tab 32 includes a micro USB port 35. MicroUSB 35 provides power and data connection points to pod 14 to externalsources. As shown in FIG. 5, tab 32 includes a plurality ofcontacts/connections (female) 36 that align with electrical connectionpoints (male) on support assembly 20. Tab 32 converts the existing powerand data connection points of pod 14 to micro USB port 35. Micro USB 35is connected to pod 14 by soldering the existing data connection pointsof pod 14 to data and power connection points 36 of tab 32. With microUSB port 35, pod 14 can be charged and communicate/transmit datasimultaneously.

According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, one ormore features of heat sink 26 is not provided. For example, according toone embodiment, heat transfer extension 36 is not provided and/or tab 32is not provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, wearable display 10 includes adjustable supportassembly 20. Support assembly 20 includes a headset base 38, a fastener40 (see FIG. 11), a pod/visual display base 42, a rubber O-ring 44positioned between headset base 38 and pod base 42, a clamp 46,partially defined by pod base 42, a screw 48, and knob 50. Other than aportion of fastener 40, most of adjustable support assembly 20 ispositioned externally of a headband 52 of headset 12. Fastener 40includes a head 54 positioned on the interior of headband 52 and a shaft56 that extends through headband 52 through a hole 58 in headband 52.

As shown in FIG. 11, headset base 38 includes a cylindrical bore 60 thatreceives a cylindrical portion 62 of shaft 56. O-ring 44 is positionedover shaft 56. Pod base 42 includes a square bore 64 that receives asquare portion 66 of shaft 56. Knob 50 includes a threaded bore 68 thatreceives a threaded end 70 of shaft 56.

Clamp 46 defines an opening 72 sized to receive support assembly 20 asshown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Screw 48 extending through clamp 46 intoopening 72 and is tightened to secure pod 14 to pod base 42 andtherefore headset 12. To adjust the position of pod 14 relative toheadset 12 or remove pod 14 from headset 12, screw 48 may be loosened.When repositioned, screw 48 is again tightened. Also during thismovement, the direction of camera 19 can be adjusted so that camera 19can be pointed at a locus of activity, such as a surgical site. Theimages captured by camera 19 can be transmitted to others for viewingand commentary, if necessary.

During or after use, it may be desirable to move visual display 18 outof the user's field of view or to reposition visual display 18 withinthe user's field of view. According to the present disclosure, pod 14with visual display 18 may be rotated about a horizontal axis ofrotation relative to headset 12. To rotate pod 14, a user at leastpartially unscrews knob 50, which relieve compression placed on O-ring44 and friction provided between headset base 38 and pod base 42 byO-ring 44. By reducing this friction, it is easier/possible to rotatepod 12 relative to headset 12. When pod 14 is in the desired location,knob 50 is tightened so that O-ring is compressed, creating friction tohold pod 14 in place. If O-ring 44 is decompressed enough, it ispossible to apply enough force/torque to pod 14 to overcome the frictioncreated by O-ring 44 without having to loosen knob 50.

While this disclosure has been described as having an exemplary design,the present disclosure may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractices in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

What is claimed is: 1 A wearable display including a headset configuredto be worn by a user, a visual display assembly including a support bodysupported by the headset and a visual display supported by the supportbody to be positioned forward of a user's eye wearing the headset, anelectrical component in communication with the visual display, and aheat sink in thermal communication with the electrical component, theheat sink including a base positioned to receive heat from theelectrical component and a plurality of heat fins in thermalcommunication with the base to dissipate heat from the electricalcomponent into the environment.
 2. The wearable display of claim 1,wherein heat sink further includes a lip coupled to the base.
 3. Thewearable display of claim 2, wherein the lip has first and second ends,the lip has a first width at the first end, and a second width at thesecond end that is greater than the first width.
 4. The wearable displayof claim 1, wherein the heat sink further includes an extension coupledto the base and positioned inside the support body of the visualdisplay.
 5. The wearable display of claim 4, wherein the electricalcomponent is a microprocessor and the extension is coupled to themicroprocessor.
 6. The wearable display of claim 4, wherein the base ispositioned outside of the visual display.
 7. The wearable display ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of heat fins are arranged side-by-sidefrom a first end of a second end, a first heat fin has a first length, asecond heat fin has a second length, and a third heat fin positionedbetween the first and second heat fins has a third length that isgreater than first and second lengths.
 8. The wearable display of claim1, wherein the heatsink includes a tab that cradles the support body. 9.The wearable display of claim 8, wherein the tab of the heatsinkincludes a micro USB port.
 10. The wearable display of claim 8, whereinthe heat sink further includes a lip positioned on a first side of thesupport body of the visual display and the tab is positioned on a secondside of the support body of the visual display that is opposite thefirst side of the support body of the visual display.
 11. A wearabledisplay including a headset configured to be worn by a user, a visualdisplay assembly including a support body supported by the headset and avisual display supported by the support body to be positioned forward ofa user's eye wearing the headset, and an adjustable support assemblycoupling the support body to the headset in one of a plurality ofpositions.
 12. The wearable display of claim 11, therein the adjustablesupport assembly includes a clamp coupled to the visual display.
 13. Thewearable display of claim 12, wherein the clamp is rotatable about ahorizontal axis of rotation when a user is wearing the wearable display.14. The wearable display of claim 12, wherein the clamp includes a screwthat is loosened to release the visual display and tightened to securethe visual display to the clamp.
 15. The wearable display of claim 11,wherein the adjustable support assembly includes a headset base coupledto the headset and a visual display base rotatably coupled to theheadset base.
 16. The wearable display of claim 15, wherein theadjustable support, assembly further includes an O-ring positionedbetween the headset base and the visual display base.